In a press release issued Thursday morning and signed by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, NAFDAC described the reports as false and misleading, stressing that no such directive had been received and that the prohibition remains fully in force.
The agency said the publication circulating on the matter does not reflect any official government communication, reiterating that its operations are guided strictly by its statutory mandate and in line with duly communicated federal policies.
“At no time has the Agency received any directive to suspend its regulatory or enforcement activities regarding sachet alcohol and small-volume alcoholic beverages,” the statement read.
NAFDAC disclosed that it has already commenced the evacuation of violative sachet alcohol products and alcoholic drinks packaged in PET bottles below 200ml from manufacturing companies as part of ongoing enforcement measures. The move, it said, is aimed at ensuring full compliance with the existing regulation.
According to the agency, several manufacturers have begun complying with the directive by halting production of the affected pack sizes. It noted that stakeholders acknowledged the intent of the policy, which is to reduce minors’ easy access to alcoholic beverages.
NAFDAC had previously cited data indicating that approximately 50 per cent of minors and underage individuals patronise outlets selling alcohol in sachets and small PET bottles, a statistic it said informed the regulatory action.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding public health, the agency said it would continue to enforce regulatory standards and implement government policies transparently and in accordance with due process.
It also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of fuelling misinformation or misinterpretation of government policy, urging members of the public, industry stakeholders and the media to rely solely on official communication channels for accurate updates.